Mpumalanga
Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga has officially handed over 455 bicycles in Mpumalanga to schoolchildren as part of the Shova Kalula Bicycle Programme.
During the ceremony held in the Thembisile Hani Local Municipality, Minister Chikunga highlighted the government’s commitment to providing practical mobility solutions for students. “We hope that these means will help them to get to and from school quicker, and that it will inspire them to pursue their educational dreams,” said Chikunga.
The initiative targeted pupils from primary and secondary schools in the area, including Sindawonye and Kwakwari Primary, as well as Mgudlwa, Mkhephuli, Mbedlwana, Sozilani and Hlomanani Secondary Schools. The programme aims to cut down commute times for learners who previously faced long walks to their learning institutions.
Originating as a pilot in 2001, the Shova Kalula or Ride Easy Bicycle Programme seeks to offer low-cost mobility to impoverished communities, mostly in rural districts. “The Shova Kalula Programme is part of the broader learner transport programme, focusing on learners who walk less than 5 kilometre (km) and walk more than 3 km to schools,” Minister Chikunga elaborated, explaining further provision of transport through buses and taxis.
In a broader context, the National Learner Transport Policy mirrors these efforts. “There are 900,946 learners in 5,635 schools that required learner transport to access their schools in the 2023/2024 financial year,” Chikunga informed, emphasizing the policy’s role in enhancing school attendance and performance by addressing the long distances many learners walk to school.
Supplementing her transport portfolio, Minister Chikunga also visited the construction site of a bridge on the R573 Moloto Road. SANRAL, the South African National Roads Agency Limited, is overseeing this multi-provincial project valued at R4.5 billion, which promises to generate approximately 12,500 jobs. “Work on the project is progressing steadily…The anticipated completion date of construction for this phase is June 2024,” she said, outlining the separate developments in Gauteng, Mpumalanga, and Limpopo.
Emphasizing the commitment to inclusivity, Chikunga noted, “About 12,500 jobs are expected to be created throughout the project duration. In line with SANRAL’s Transformation Policy, the inclusion of youth- and women-owned businesses will be prioritised.”
